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Writing addendums for graduate applications - 5/11/2008 3:19:21 PM
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solo_soprano22
Posts: 2168
Joined: 4/27/2005
From: I'm a Southern girl
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I'm applying for graduate school sometime next semester (or in January). Several people (professors and others) have told me that I should write a short addendum to my application about the semesters that were affected by illness (four semesters, but three semesters mainly-- the three after my first freshman semester). The first two semesters I tried to tough it out (not a good idea), and my grades suffered...then that third semester I got so bad that I had to withdraw completely and have emergency surgery. (The withdrawals show up on the transcript.)
Other than the terrible grades in those two semesters, I've made only one C...but the bad semesters were such that I can only recover so much, even if I make all A's. I'm still very ill, but I'm trying to manage/plan my classes betterl to accommodate the disorders (they're pain disorders).
I'm not sure how I'm supposed to word it, and what to put in/leave out. Is there a site that can give me some tips?
TIA
_____________________________
For God, For Learning, Forever.
"Nobody told me the road would be easy, and I don’t believe He’s brought me this far to leave me..." (Blog entry)
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RE: Writing addendums for graduate applications - 5/15/2008 9:42:47 PM
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zahra
Posts: 22
Joined: 4/12/2005
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It seems like your professors are saying you have some major red flags in your transcript that need some explanation, without which the selection committees might not consider your application.
I think they would be very suspicious of any statement that implies "It was totally not my fault." While that may be true, what will probably impress them a lot more is a statement that truthfully acknowledges any personal responsibility (or mistakes) that contributed to the withdrawals. Tell them what your difficult circumstances were (these were definitely not your fault). Also demonstrate that you are a mature person who has been able to reflect on what you struggled with. Acknowledge what you might have done differently if you could do it again. Be humble and honest; avoid being defensive.
I'm not sure I know of any good examples of such addendums. There is probably no great way to say this. Write it as a formal letter ("Dear Selection Committee:") if it helps you get your thoughts down, and then just show it to some people you know whose judgment you trust. :)
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I didn't have a ton of bad grades before; it's just that the ones caused by my inability to be in class are the ones that initially brought down my gpa.
